Transit support



May 12, 1953 c. REED 2,633,302

TRANSIT SUPPORT Filed Jan. 23., 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3% 1 F I G I INVENTOR. 4

CHARLES H. REED WWMW w m ay 2, 1953 c. H. REED 2338,302

TRANSIT SUPPORT Filed Jan. 23, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

CHARLES REED Patented May 12, 1953 TRANSIT SUPPORT Charles H. Reed, Bobtown, Pa.

Application January 23, 1950, Serial No. 140,064

1 Claim.

This invention relates to surveying instruments generally, but relates specifically to a transit stand having only one leg with an earth contact member at each end thereof for wedging between two surfaces, such as the top and fioor of a mine.

One object of this invention is to provide a transit stand for use in places having an overhead surface, such as a coal mine, with only one foot to rest upon the floor of the mine, and being stabilized by a foot for contacting the ceiling of the mine, to thereby avoid the difficulty of find-- ing three spots on the floor of suitable character to support a conventional stand.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved telescoping structure for use as a transit stand in a mine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a one-legged transit stand capable of supporting a surveyors transit at any selected elevation from the floor to the ceiling of the mine.

And another object of this invention is to provide a self-adjusting foot portion for a onelegged mine transit, which foot portion will swivel to conform to an uneven footing surface.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claim, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of a one-.

legged mine transit stand incorporating the features of this invention;

Figure 2' is an alternate foot portion incorporating a single point which may replace the three-pointed foot portion illustrated at the bottom of the stand when positioned as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along line 3-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 1, illustrating the cross-sectional appearance of the vernier adjustment collar only, omitting the cooperating portions of the entire post;

Figure 5 is a top view of the vertically adjustable table member and a section through one section of the post, taken as indicated along line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a top View of the grip clamp and Vernier adjustment members provided to longitudinallyadjust the length of the post, taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1; and

1-1 of Figure 6.

The drawings illustrate in detail one embodiment of a mine survey instrument made according to'the principles of this invention. The illustrated embodiment comprises a post member it having tubular portions II and I2. Tubular portion H is dimensioned to slide into the tubular portion l2 and thereby provide a telescoping action for the post member ll]. That is, the post member II) can be extended or retracted to substantially the degree of telescoping provided by the two members II and i2.

In mine surveying work the floor of the mine is seldom level enough to provide a satisfactory foundation upon which to set a conventional tripod for supporting a surveyors transit. Furthermore, there are often situations in which a rise in the mine floor limits the field of the transit because the transit camiot be raised high enough on the conventional tripod. On the other hand, in many instances it is necessary to lower the transit close to the floor in order to sight past a dip in the mine roof. The conventional transit cannot be lowered in most instances without extra help to hold the tripod feet, and often the Width of the corridor in which the transit is placed is not great enough to allow sufiicient spread of the transit seat.

The improved instrument of this invention provides a single post which is adapted to wedge between the ceiling and floor of the mine corridor and provide a post upon which a table 3t can be moved in substantially any position from the ceiling to the floor of the mine. The post mem- I ber I0 is adapted, according to the teaching of this invention, for rapid engagement between the ceiling and the floor of the mine. A clamp i3 is provided to encircle the small tubular section II and clamp tightly thereto. The clamp I3 is in the form of a split collar having ears iii thereon. A stud I6 is threadably engaged with one of the ears l5 and extends through the other earlii in close engagement, but is not threaded thereto. A handle i1 is provided to rotate the stud I6 and thereby pull the cars It? together to pinch the clamp l3 tightly upon the small tubular section II. Thus, the clamp l3 provides a block which maybe moved to any selected position with respect to the small tubular section I I and thereafter prevent movement of the tubular section i i into the tubular section l2 further than the position of the clamp i3. Accordingly, the clamp is may be released and the tubular sections ii and I2 telescoped together until the post It is moved into a vertical position at the place where it is desired to be set up. Thereafter, the tubular sections II and H are extended until snug contact is made between the floor and the ceiling of the mine, whereupon the handle ll is actuated to grip the clamp l3 upon the small tubular section I l at the end of the large tubular section 22 and thereby prevent telescoping of the post member l0.

Such a, snug fit is enough to prevent the post member ID. from. falling of its own weight, but is not sufiiciently tight to provider the rigidity desired for a transit during a surveying operation. Therefore, the clamp I3 is provided with a. threaded skirt l4, and a Vernier collar is is provided with internal threads [9 adapted to engage;-

the threaded skirt M. The Vernier collar I8 is also provided with threads 20 adaptedt'o en'gage" threads 2! placed at the end; of the largetubu lar section it. The threads [9 and 20, as Well as the threaded skirt l4 and the threads 2l-, are of opposite hands, and therefore rotation of the Vernier collar it will tend to movetheskirtr M and consequently the clamp 13 away from the threads 2|, and consequently the large tubular section. 12. Vernier collar I8 is split vertically and; provided with ears 24 on both sidesof: thesplit. A. stud 25, having left-hand threadsron one-end thereof; and right-hand threadszonthe other end thereof, bridges between. the two ears: 24-; Openings, as. illustrated, or slots, are. provided; in the earszd, and the threaded ends of the stud 25: extend beyond the sides ofthe ears 211i Serratednuts, held normally nonrotative, but adjustable, by lock members 26; are threaded uponthe ends of stud 25. a position between cars 24; handle 22 vertically with respect to the post member it, the ears 2 3 may be drawntogether, or released. Further; the handle 22- may. heswung' outwardly to a position substantially" asillustrated in Figure l, releasing" the forceon ears 2 4,- and thereafter used"- as' a lever to-rotate the collar l8. Such split Vernier collar h'as'heen found, in actual practice, to bebetterthan onenot split, becauseit can be tightened to preventloosening by vibration; and further, the handle 22 can be swung out of the way againstthe post when'in use. It will beseen; therefore, that after the post member I is manually. extended into a snug fit between theceilingandfloor-ofthemine and the clamp lit-secured to holdthepost' member loin such-snug fit, thevernitercollarlfi maythereafter berotatect to furtherextend'the post member lfland wedge'it-tightly between-the ceiling and floor of" the" mine, thereby providing-the" rigid support required for a' transit instrument stand.

In conveyor mines; the edge of the-conveyor is almost always'placed on the surveyors'sight line; With the conventional tripods used by surveyors, when it becomes necessary to place a transit along such a conveyor; the entire conveyor must be-shut'down, and of coursethe mine becomes inactive. Withthe' improved transit instrument cf'thisinvention, the post I'Bisplaced close beside the conveyor-while the conveyor is operating, and the table 30'' is swung over" the edge of the conveyor. The rigid support'pro vided for the transitby thepost" l B; and'thesmall space required, will permit accurate surveying while themine continues to operate;

Further, it is often necessaryto move'a survey" instrument. quickly to get out of the wayof" an approaching trip in a track, or mobile rubber mounted, mine.

In the illustrated embodiment, the:

A handle 22 is attached" to; stud 25 at B3 swinging the-- The clamp it maybe loosened to release the post I0 almost instantly, and the" 4 engineer can get his equipment out of the path of the trip in short order.

Mine surveying engineers have often had the experience of having the roof of a mine cave in on them while working. With the post it of this invention, additional safety is provided, not so much in supporting the mine roof, as in warning the engineer of any roof movement. The transit level will warn the engineer of any. incipient movement.

It has been found that the usefulness of this improved mine survey instrument is greatly increased by the provision of pointed members to serve as opposite end feet of the post member it. At thebottom of the post member 10, in the position illustrated inFigure 1 of the drawings, a triple-pointed end 34 is illustrated as being held in the end of the large tubular section !2 by means of a set screw 35. The triple-pointed end serves very well in most, instances. and provides good locking engagement with either the'fioor or ceilingof. the asthe case may be, but it has beenfound that in many-instances a single point.

inthe form of a cone 38- may be desirable, such as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. For example, in use with buildingsit. has been found that acenter punch mark can be properly located, and thentherpoint 3'8 placediin the mark. In this. manner the improved. transit instrument may beiusedto.loeatemembers of astructural. steel construction. or equipment in the building.

It has also been found. that variations-in the mine floor" and ceiling; will; often prevent: good anchorage ofi'the post. H] in theparticular spot desired, if a rigid longitudinally extending point is provided, and. therefore it. has been discovered that a swivel foot as illustrated-at the top end of Figure 1 will provide good anchorage regardless.

of the contour of the surface engaged. The swivel end is providediby'aflang insert ill held in the end of the small tubular section H by means of a set screw it asillustra-ted inFigure 3 of the drawings. A. swivel end: 43 is provided with ears M to: fit: closely over" the flange insert M. It is of. course llIldBTStOOdithELti the reverse situation can he providediif desired; That is, a single earm'ay beprovided on the swivel endJlB with a double flange on the insert 4| A stud i5 is threadably engaged'with'one of the ears 44 and extends through the: other one,.and.is:rotatably driven by a handle 45 for tightening the ears 44 upon the flange inserti M However, the handle 46 need notbe tightened: to more than" a snug fit, because the force producedbythe Vernier collar I8- in. extending the post member. I- J. will" cause the swivel end 43 to move and compensate for the irregularityoif the contact surface withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the post memberlil. The handle it need be tightened only enough to hold; the swivel end. 43 in; the general uprightpositionuntiLtig t. wedging can be accomplished. It has been found. that two pointed tips 43 held upon a yoke 41 will provide sufiicientv contactfor the swivel end 43.

The table 36 is provided with a threaded transit'collar 3i thereon tehold atransit. instrument manner as the clamp. l3. A handle33 is1providedto tighten the clamp 32 in any. desired verticali positionupon the tubular section: 12.: It has been found that a series of gradual-ions; preferably intenths of a foot, along the side of the tubularportion l2, will aid the surveyor in setting the proper height of the table 30. The graduations have not been illustrated upon the tubular sec}- tion l2 in the reduced scale drawings necessary to illustrate this invention.

In the use of the improved mine survey instrument illustrated and described, the post member I0 is normally set with the triple-pointed end. 34 against the mine floor and the swivel end 43 in contact with the mine ceiling. Normally the extent of movement of the table 30 provided by the length of the large tubular section I2 is sufficient. However, in many instances a rise in the mine floor will necessitate raising of the transit above the height normally provided by the extent of movement available for the table 30 in the position illustrated in Figure 1. This invention provides the necessary flexibility to permit raising of the transit to the ceiling of the mine. Whenever it is found necessary to move the transit to a highposition, the clamp 32 is loosened and the table 30 slipped off of the tubular section 12 and reversed in an upside-down position from that illustrated in Figure 1. Thereafter, the entire post member is reversed in position to place the large tubular section l2 at the top. If it is found necessary to dose, the ends 34 and 43 may be reversed to aid in the usefulness of the post member in the reverse position. The table is then operable at a high level and will raise the transit to a position to sight over any raise in the mine floor. Other useful benefits and features of this improved single-post transit stand will at once be apparent to mine survey engineers who have encountered the many problems prevailing in the surveying of mines with the conventional tripod transit stand. Further, the advantageous use of this instrument for sewer survey, tunneling, building construction, and similar environments wherein an overhead surface is available, will be readily apparent to those associated with such work.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred i'orm has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combinafemale section, one of said sections being longer than the other when the two sections are fully extended, a friction clamp collar on the male section, means to frictionally clamp said collar upon the said male section at anyselected position and block the telescoping movement of that section with respect to the female section,said collar having a threaded skirt portion, said female section having a threaded portion, said threaded portion of the female section and said threaded skirt portion of the collar having opposite hand threads, a vernier collar having first thread means to cooperate with the threaded portion on said female section and second thread means to cooperate with the threaded skirt of the collar, the post member being thereby roughly adjustable in length tofit snugly between a mine floor and ceiling and being wedged tightly in place by actuation of said Vernier collar to further extend said post member, said post memher having a swivel foot member on at least one end thereof, and a vertically adjustable transit table carried by said longer section.

CHARLES H. REED.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,820,727 Bayles Aug. 25, 1931 2,261,061 Horton Oct. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 351,379 Germany Apr. 6, 1922 

